Curtis Sagmoen, a notorious figure in British Columbia with a long history of violence against women, particularly those in the sex trade, has died. The news was confirmed by the family of Traci Genereaux, an 18-year-old whose remains were discovered on Sagmoen's family farm in 2017. The B.C. Coroners Service announced on April 11, 2025, that it is investigating the circumstances surrounding Sagmoen's death, which occurred while he was in his 40s.
Darcy Martin, Genereaux's grandmother, expressed a mix of emotions upon hearing the news. "It's wonderful because our court system kinda sucks," she told the Vernon Morning Star. Martin was notified of Sagmoen's passing by the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP, who reached out to the family early Friday morning. While she felt relief that he could no longer harm anyone, she also acknowledged the unresolved questions surrounding her granddaughter's death.
Sagmoen's criminal history is marked by multiple convictions related to violence against women. In June 2020, he received a sentence of three years probation and five months in jail for assault causing bodily harm after he ran into a woman with an ATV in 2017. This incident prompted the RCMP to issue a rare public warning urging sex workers to avoid him.
His previous convictions include an assault on a woman in Maple Ridge in February 2019 and a December 2019 incident where he pointed a gun at another woman. In 2018, he was given an absolute discharge after pleading guilty to mischief for using a spike belt to deflate a woman's vehicle tires near his parents' farm in Salmon Arm.
The case of Traci Genereaux remains particularly haunting. She was reported missing in May 2017, and her remains were found later that year on Sagmoen's property. Although her death was deemed suspicious, no charges were ever laid against Sagmoen, and he was never named a suspect. This lack of accountability has left many, including Martin, feeling unsettled.
Martin noted that while she is relieved that Sagmoen can no longer pose a threat, she is left with lingering thoughts about justice. "He’s never been held accountable for anything that he has done, with all of the crimes that he has committed, it’s just been a slap on the wrist," she said.
In the years following Genereaux's disappearance, Sagmoen continued to face legal troubles. In early 2022, the RCMP reiterated that he was bound by a court-imposed probation order, which explicitly prohibited any contact with sex trade workers. Despite these restrictions, court records from 2024 revealed that he was facing two counts of possessing ammunition after an incident in Kamloops.
Throughout his legal battles, Sagmoen's actions drew significant public attention and protests, particularly from advocates for victims of violence against women. Many were frustrated by the perceived leniency of the justice system in dealing with Sagmoen's repeated offenses.
Jody Leon, a missing women advocate, shared her mixed feelings about Sagmoen's death. "The loss of any life is something that’s tragic," she stated, but acknowledged that for families like Genereaux's, the unanswered questions remain. "Curtis is now dead, and he was never charged in relation to Genereaux’s death, and nobody was ever named a suspect," she reflected.
As the investigation into Sagmoen's death continues, Martin hopes that it might prompt others who were fearful of him to come forward. "Maybe there were people out there that were in fear of him and didn’t want to say anything. So maybe now some more people might come forward. We might get some more closure," she suggested.
Despite the closure that some may feel with Sagmoen's passing, the broader issues of violence against women and the justice system's handling of such cases remain pressing concerns. Martin and her daughter plan to attend a rally on May 1, 2025, at the Splatsin Centre to support the families of missing and murdered Indigenous women, continuing their advocacy for justice and awareness.
The tragic saga of Curtis Sagmoen serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggles faced by many in the sex trade and the families of those who have gone missing. As investigations unfold, the hope remains that future cases will be handled with the seriousness they deserve, ensuring that victims and their families receive the justice they seek.
